Good News Bros! Science Says You’re Showering Too Much, So Turn That Water Off And Go Jump In Some Mud, Will Ya?

Showering: it’s what’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner if your girlfriend had her way, whereas if you’re an average dude it’s that 2 a.m. Taco Bell run you do once a week because you’re like “Eh, fuck it” and just realized you hadn’t had a Quesarito in a while.

In other words, y’all need to shower more. But that’s according to me, not science – science says to shower less, but not to be gross about it like you already are. So how often is “more” yet at the same time “less”? Apparently it’s less than once a day:

Researchers at Colombia University have discovered that washing too frequently can dry out and crack your skin.

These openings then allow bacteria and other microbes to get into your body.

And although you might be washing off some of the smells of the day you’re also washing off natural oils that your skin produces.

“I think showering is mostly for aesthetic reasons,” said Dr. Elaine Larson, an infectious disease expert at Columbia University School of Nursing.(via)

While Larson did not specify exactly how often you need to shower, she does concede that “it doesn’t need to be every day.” That’s assuming of course that you don’t reek – if you worked up a sweat at the gym and are looking for excuses to not bathe for another few days, you won’t find it here.

Washing your hair, however, is a different story:

“Some people with a dry scalp and hair probably only need to lather it every few weeks,” said Mitchell.

And even if you have dandruff or other scalp issues, you should be okay with just washing your locks a couple of times a week.(via)